......IN A HEARTBEAT
-
SusyLuvsPaul wrote:
I'm praying like a demon with my eyes on fire for you guys, you've been through so much...especially Little Laura, it's heartbreaking and also inspiring how you manage to keep upbeat and look for silver linings, Laura. I want some miracles and good things for you ! I'm glad your ordeal has some real bright spots and good outcomes, Hailey. Go for that "laughing gas" ! Nancy, I shaved off all my hair on a whim about two years ago or less, and wore wigs (which is fun, you can be a redhead and blonde!) and when it all grew back after less than a year, it grew back black and straight, like it always was. Not much grey at all. But it didn't grow back a lot thicker, which I hoped would occur. My health woes are my diabetes and kidneys. The most important number for the kidneys has gone down some and I'm on the brink of stage four kidney disease and I'm worried. I may have done it to myself by taking too much diabetes meds, more than I'm supposed to, these past few months. I'm not a good patient ! I want to see a kidney specialist, but might wait til' after the holidays. I fear there's a long waiting list. My other numbers this time for chlorestoral and diabetes were good, the P.A. said. That surprised me. He laughed at me (kinda cruel!) for gaining eight pounds in just six weeks since I saw him last. I blame the cheesecake, way too much of it, and candy (that's how other diabetics I know are; they'll go on big sugar binges now and then, big ones). Now my tummy section looks like a little Buddha's, an apple from the side, but I cover it w/ clothes. The good thing is that's where I lose weight first when I diet. The bad news is the diabetic diet and kidney diet both contradict each other on some items, so I don't know what to eat. For example, whole grains have too much phosphorus and potassium, so I'm supposed to "eat white" with bread, pasta, not even much brown rice. White bread and white pasta (or veggie pasta, I think I could have that in small portions). But with diabetes you're not supposed to eat any white stuff. With the kidney diet you're not supposed to have white potatoes or sweet potatoes. Some "leach (leech?) out potassium" from white potatoes by soaking them a long time. You're not supposed to get too much protein as it harms the kidneys and some online told me I'll have to become a vegan. But my P.A. said no, you shouldn't become one. Confusing.
At this point Suzy, my thought is you should protect your kidneys, so you don't have to go on dialysis 3 times a week . There are a lot of great recipes for your kidneys. I'm not a doctor, however, know of someone on dialysis and that happened because they didn't strictly follow their diabetes guidelines and didn't drink enough water. Please don't ignore this, as it is very important for your wellbeing. Your local Davita, are very helpful with kidney issues and recipes. They may let you take a class. All the best!
-
It's all gone soooooo bad. My life is upsidedown again. My sister is in hospital in Intensive Care (ICU) with menengitis. She's on a breathing tube and she refuses to wake up. I can't bear this. I can't lose my sister. Yesterday the neurologist did brain tests to see how much damage is done. We're all dreading the results. I need my sister. I hurt soooo badly.
-
So sorry to hear this Laura! What type of meningitis is it?
-
Laura, keeping you & yours in my thoughts & prayers.
-
Bacterial menengitis. And pneumonia. She's been in ICU for over a week and is still not waking up. Drs are warning us there may be brain damage. A tiny bit of good news last nite. They removed the breathing tube and she is breathing on her own. It's been one of the worst weeks of my liife.
On top of that I got bad news from my bone specialist. He told me Tuesday that my pelvic hip area and thigh bone, (femur), has deteriorated to the point that any hip replacement is not possible. The bones even have holes in them. (I've had all the X-rays, CAT scans and MRI's they can do, plus he is an expert). This means only "pain management" is left. This is only just beginning to sink in as all my thinking has been about my sister--who has always been a rock supporting me. I feel like someone kicked me full force in the stomach. I can't think of life without her.
-
At least with bacterial meningitis and pneumonia they can fight it with antibiotics. And that is great she is breathing on her own! They probably just have to give you "worst case scenario" by saying she may have brain damage. She could wake up and be fine.
What is it that caused the deterioration of your bones? In other words, what is your diagnosis, some type of osteoporosis? Sorry to hear pain management is your only option.
-
I'm still here. My sister is still in hospital. There may have been brain damage after all. Sigh. At least she's out of ICU.
My doctors and I are trying to work out pain control, now that the operation is off the table. I'm of mixed feelings. I worked so hard for _a year_r to get off opiads. Only to find the operation I was counting on to relieve much of my pain ain't happening. I loathe going back on, but what else is there since physio is also not an option?
For now over Christmas/New Years I'm gonna do what Scarlett always did in Gone With The Wind when she was confronted by a problem: I'll think about it tomorrow....and tomorrow,.....and tomorrow.
-
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
I'm still here. My sister is still in hospital. There may have been brain damage after all. Sigh. At least she's out of ICU.
My doctors and I are trying to work out pain control, now that the operation is off the table. I'm of mixed feelings. I worked so hard for _a year_r to get off opiads. Only to find the operation I was counting on to relieve much of my pain ain't happening. I loathe going back on, but what else is there since physio is also not an option?
For now over Christmas/New Years I'm gonna do what Scarlett always did in Gone With The Wind when she was confronted by a problem: I'll think about it tomorrow....and tomorrow,.....and tomorrow.
Sorry to hear all that Laura. Did your sister wake up then and is off the vent? Please see my previous post to you. If you don't want to answer, I understand.
-
Well, she is out of hospital now, but very, very weak. Recovery is gonna take a quite a while. Still don't know if total is possible. But she talks, and seems fairly cognitive.
Unfortunately my Mom is once again ill. Has been since the Sunday before Christmas. It's gowning up and wearing masks and gloves time again. She's pulled through before. I'm hoping she will again.
Me? I crashed--big time. Probably the stresses of the above, plus ongoing pain left me vulnerable to bugs out there. So here I am on New Years Eve--a sickie. At least I can have some ginger ale to toast the new year.
Happy New Years everyone!
-
Do I have a target on me? Or is there one on my whole family??? Now my nephew has collasped and taken to hospital. They're doing scans (CAT, tomorrow MRI), to try and figure out why he has this on-going severe headache. Though I didn't give actual birth to him, he's my baby in every other sense. The stress is overwhelming.
I've been taking consolation with Elton John and Paul. Through their respective books that is. I got both "ME" (Elton's), and "HEY GRAND DUDE" (Paul's), for Christmas. I reccommend both by the way.
You know maybe I should sign up for that Mars exploit. Or move in with Harry & Meghan. They're not so far away from me now. Hey Haaaaarrrrrrry! Just kidding.
-
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
Do I have a target on me? Or is there one on my whole family??? Now my nephew has collasped and taken to hospital. They're doing scans (CAT, tomorrow MRI), to try and figure out why he has this on-going severe headache. Though I didn't give actual birth to him, he's my baby in every other sense. The stress is overwhelming.
I've been taking consolation with Elton John and Paul. Through their respective books that is. I got both "ME" (Elton's), and "HEY GRAND DUDE" (Paul's), for Christmas. I reccommend both by the way.
You know maybe I should sign up for that Mars exploit. Or move in with Harry & Meghan. They're not so far away from me now. Hey Haaaaarrrrrrry! Just kidding.
It's not just you. We have had a series of bad luck too in our family, starting Oct. 19th. My son had car accident #1 (not his fault) and his 2005 Scion xB was totaled. He replaced the car with a 2006 Scion xB 2 days later. Then Dec. 29th he totaled it when he hit a deer! I lent him my 2011 Honda CR-Z and my mom and I shared her car. On Jan. 2nd, accident #3 (again not his fault!) and my car was totaled! Fortunately nobody was badly injured or killed in any of the accidents. His back is still bothering him and he's seeing a chiropractor. Also early morning 4am on Jan. 2nd, I was in acute abdominal pain, went to the ER and via CT scan found out I had a huge kidney stone. Long story short, got it broken up via shock wave lithotripsy and by the 15th my pain was gone and stone fragments passed. On Monday I bought a 2016 Honda CR-Z that they just happened to have at the dealer I use! Looks new, low mileage (22,774) It is gray with black interior. My 2011 was silver with gray interior. The price had been dropped over $1800 too and was comparable to Kelley Blue Book. My son has found another 2006 Scion xB (yes, like me, he loved his car and wanted the same one - his is black) He and his girlfriend are taking cheap Southwest flights ($49 each) one way to Newark to get the car in Brooklyn. He was already paid by the insurance companies for the loss of the first 2 cars. I got a great price for mine because it only had 32,700 miles on it even though it was over 9 years old! It was a hybrid and the battery warranty had expired, and those cost about $4000 to replace. The 2016 I bought was first purchased in June 2017, so I have a warranty on its batteries until June 2025! It is a "certified pre-owned" car as well so I get an extra year's warranty on the car, until June 2021.
Let us know what's going on with your nephew! And how is your sister?
-
My sister is making progress, but it's slow. My Mom is better and holding her own. (we haven't told her about either medical emergency--don't want to stress her.).
My nephew--what a screw-up. Sigh. He was supposed to have an MRI today, but the doctor they sent him to, (the hospital's MRI was already overbooked so they sent him to a private clinic), thought he was just supposed to diagnose an already made MRI he though the hospital had done. So, they sent him home with painkillers and told him to wait for a call. They said they put him on the urgent list. They said that before. So it's a waiting game. You know, if he were a sports star, or Premier, (that's like an American state Governor), he's be already treated by now. I hate the celebrity/political preferance game they play. My nephew and any ordinary person is just as important. Sorry I had to vent.
-
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
My sister is making progress, but it's slow. My Mom is better and holding her own. (we haven't told her about either medical emergency--don't want to stress her.).
My nephew--what a screw-up. Sigh. He was supposed to have an MRI today, but the doctor they sent him to, (the hospital's MRI was already overbooked so they sent him to a private clinic), thought he was just supposed to diagnose an already made MRI he though the hospital had done. So, they sent him home with painkillers and told him to wait for a call. They said they put him on the urgent list. They said that before. So it's a waiting game. You know, if he were a sports star, or Premier, (that's like an American state Governor), he's be already treated by now. I hate the celebrity/political preferance game they play. My nephew and any ordinary person is just as important. Sorry I had to vent.
I gather you don't live in the U.S.? Here he would have immediately been taken in for an MRI or whatever he needed. (just like I arrived in the ER at 4 am and they had me in the CT scanner in about 2 hours. We were home by 9:30 am.) And the CT scan only cost $480 of which I had to pay $188 towards my $600 deductible.
-
Nancy R wrote:
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
My sister is making progress, but it's slow. My Mom is better and holding her own. (we haven't told her about either medical emergency--don't want to stress her.).
My nephew--what a screw-up. Sigh. He was supposed to have an MRI today, but the doctor they sent him to, (the hospital's MRI was already overbooked so they sent him to a private clinic), thought he was just supposed to diagnose an already made MRI he though the hospital had done. So, they sent him home with painkillers and told him to wait for a call. They said they put him on the urgent list. They said that before. So it's a waiting game. You know, if he were a sports star, or Premier, (that's like an American state Governor), he's be already treated by now. I hate the celebrity/political preferance game they play. My nephew and any ordinary person is just as important. Sorry I had to vent.
I gather you don't live in the U.S.? Here he would have immediately been taken in for an MRI or whatever he needed. (just like I arrived in the ER at 4 am and they had me in the CT scanner in about 2 hours. We were home by 9:30 am.) And the CT scan only cost $480 of which I had to pay $188 towards my $600 deductible.
You are very fortunate Nancy! I'm always having to wait a long time for things where I live and I have very good insurance. I'm having to wait over a month for an appointment I was referred for, if I'm lucky there will be a cancellation and I can get in early.
-
paulfan11 wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
My sister is making progress, but it's slow. My Mom is better and holding her own. (we haven't told her about either medical emergency--don't want to stress her.).
My nephew--what a screw-up. Sigh. He was supposed to have an MRI today, but the doctor they sent him to, (the hospital's MRI was already overbooked so they sent him to a private clinic), thought he was just supposed to diagnose an already made MRI he though the hospital had done. So, they sent him home with painkillers and told him to wait for a call. They said they put him on the urgent list. They said that before. So it's a waiting game. You know, if he were a sports star, or Premier, (that's like an American state Governor), he's be already treated by now. I hate the celebrity/political preferance game they play. My nephew and any ordinary person is just as important. Sorry I had to vent.
I gather you don't live in the U.S.? Here he would have immediately been taken in for an MRI or whatever he needed. (just like I arrived in the ER at 4 am and they had me in the CT scanner in about 2 hours. We were home by 9:30 am.) And the CT scan only cost $480 of which I had to pay $188 towards my $600 deductible.
You are very fortunate Nancy! I'm always having to wait a long time for things where I live and I have very good insurance. I'm having to wait over a month for an appointment I was referred for, if I'm lucky there will be a cancellation and I can get in early.
Yes, and right now (until I go on Medicare May 1st) I have Ambetter through healthcare.gov (Obamacare) They pay 100% of the ER after my $600 deductible. I have racked up over $50,000 in charges from the hospital for ER and 2 outpatient surgeries for a kidney stone. The urologist is one I worked with in the O.R. for about 25 years and he wasn't covered by Ambetter, but charged me nothing as a professional courtesy!
We do have to sometimes wait over a month or more to get doctor appointments. I always make my gyn appointment about 4-6 months early and when I see my PCP (primary care physician) I always make another appointment for 6 months later so I can get my prescriptions refilled. I can go back to my original PCP in July when I'm on Medicare. (he didn't take Ambetter which I started in Dec. 2017) Luckily I was able to find an Ambetter doctor who I knew, but he is about 75 years old now, so I want to go back to my 45 year old doc!
Most PCPs have what they call "sick appointments" where they allow time in their daily schedule in case someone needs to be seen right away. Both mine have that and it has been a lifesaver a couple times.
-
Well, my Nephew has had surgery and is now out of hospital--tho very weak. It was a brain tumour, but they think they got it all. We're still awaiting lab results.. They take such a loooong time. Soooo stressful. For all of us.
Since November 2019 to now it has been a very long stressful 14 months. One thing after another, after another, after another. I have kept working on my art which has become a refuge of sorts. It helps keep my anxiety down. (I think these past months have given me permanent anxiety. Sigh). I just finished doing a Damselfly in oil pastel. What delightfully cute creatures! They're begging Disney to showcase them in some animated movie. (if you haven't seen one pick up a copy of National Geographic's January 2020 issue. Anyhow one look at the pix and I HAD to draw/paint them. I'll post it somtime.
-
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
Well, my Nephew has had surgery and is now out of hospital--tho very weak. It was a brain tumour, but they think they got it all. We're still awaiting lab results.. They take such a loooong time. Soooo stressful. For all of us.
Since November 2019 to now it has been a very long stressful 14 months. One thing after another, after another, after another. I have kept working on my art which has become a refuge of sorts. It helps keep my anxiety down. (I think these past months have given me permanent anxiety. Sigh). I just finished doing a Damselfly in oil pastel. What delightfully cute creatures! They're begging Disney to showcase them in some animated movie. (if you haven't seen one pick up a copy of National Geographic's January 2020 issue. Anyhow one look at the pix and I HAD to draw/paint them. I'll post it somtime.
You must have meant Nov. 2018, right? I know, it seems like bad stuff seems to all happen at once! They should have had the Pathology results on the tumor in 3 days! Did you find out yet? Are you taking meds for your anxiety? Daily Escitalopram is good and Alprazolam (Xanax) as needed when it gets bad.
-
I just looked at my claims on Ambetter's website and they are going to pay my urologist something after all (probably because he is still listed as being covered in 2020) although not nearly what he billed, at least it's better than nothing. So far I just have paid my $600 deductible, so anyone who says Obamacare is shit didn't pick the right insurance company. My only other choice was Kaiser Permanente - no freakin' way!!
Well, before I know it I'll be on Medicare, plus I just applied for my monthly pensions from the 2 hospitals I worked at since 1982, so won't have to apply for Social Security until I'm 70 and will get a lot more each month then.
-
LITTLE LAURA wrote:
Well, my Nephew has had surgery and is now out of hospital--tho very weak. It was a brain tumour, but they think they got it all. We're still awaiting lab results.. They take such a loooong time. Soooo stressful. For all of us.
Since November 2019 to now it has been a very long stressful 14 months. One thing after another, after another, after another. I have kept working on my art which has become a refuge of sorts. It helps keep my anxiety down. (I think these past months have given me permanent anxiety. Sigh). I just finished doing a Damselfly in oil pastel. What delightfully cute creatures! They're begging Disney to showcase them in some animated movie. (if you haven't seen one pick up a copy of National Geographic's January 2020 issue. Anyhow one look at the pix and I HAD to draw/paint them. I'll post it somtime.
Sounds cute, looking forward to seeing it, all the best Little Laura
-
The lab results finally came back at the beginning of this week. My Nephew's tumour is......BENIGN !!! I am soooo relieved. Now he has to concentrate on recovery which the Drs say will be slow. He's frustrated as there are so many things he still can't do yet. The Docs say the tumour was in his brain for nearly 20 years (!) , growing slowly until his brain couldn't cope anymore. The Docs say because of this, it will be some time to recover completely, but they're optimistic he will.
Yeah I was on anti-anxiety meds already bcause of other pressures/traumas. Of course this really ramped it up to pretty well full time. But my Doc refuses to up the dose. I see him soon, and I'm gonna make sure he knows just how bad this session has been!
But I'm so happy the tumour was benign!!!
PS You were correct. I meant 2018. Thanks for pointing that out.